Saturday, 27 June 2015

Fortress T4: An Airbase at War

By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans

The Islamic State's offensive in Central Syria has not only allowed the fighters of the Islamic State to expand their operations into areas previously out of reach, but it now also threatens the regime's gas supplies, its presence on numerous fronts, its control over the only road leading to the vitally important T4 airbase and the airbase itself, the largest of its kind in Syria.

T4, sharing its name with the nearby pumping station, is more commonly (yet incorrectly) known as Tiyas and a whole host of other names. After the fall of Tadmur airbase, it is now one of sixteen operational airbases under control of the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF), and its defence is essential to the SyAAF's ability to exercise control over the Syrian skies. No less than three fighter-bomber squadrons and one helicopter squadron are currently operating out of T4, including the pride of the SyAAF: its Su-24M2s. The airbase is also home to the now decommissioned MiG-25 fleet, largely phased out in the previous decade. Despite being Syria's largest airbase, T4 only has one runway, making the airbase extremely vulnerable in case this single runway gets taken out.

In anticipation of an Islamic State offensive on T4 after their lightning advance throughout Central and Eastern Syria in mid and late 2014, the airbase's assets were heavily reinforced by a temporarily detachment of L-39s, formerly deployed to the then recently overrun Tabqa airbase and by one detachment of at least four Mi-8/17s.

Fully aware of the high military value of T4, the regime has made
extensive efforts to defend the airbase, making it come close to being an
impenetrable fortress. 'Fortress T4' also serves as a barrier between
the now Islamic State controlled Tadmur, and regime controlled Homs,
further adding to its importance. The regime forces defending T4 have clashed with the fighters of the Islamic State on numerous occasions throughout the past year, with the latest offensive coming close to the officer's housing and T4 pumping station. According to various reports by Islamic State related Twitter accounts, T4 was targeted with artillery in late May 2015, although it remains unknown if this caused any damage to the airbase.

While the airbase itself is not in imminent danger of falling to the
fighters of the Islamic State, the control over the only road leading to
T4 is disputed, and will likely completely be under the control of the
Islamic State if they continue their push towards Homs. This would
isolate T4 and make access by road impossible, leading to significant
problems in the long run. Resupplying the airbase would then be in the
hands of the SyAAF's transport aircraft and helicopters, but such an
airlift would have serious drawbacks as it would be unable to bring in any heavy weaponry and fuel, not to mention
the fact that it would also cost the regime loads of precious resources.

The resident fleet of aircraft and helicopters has the potential of being a major eyesore to the fighters of the Islamic State, and has the ability to thwart the Islamic State in any of its future offensives undertaken in the Homs Governorate. But as the SyAAF remains largely unable to respond to actual developments, and often only joins the fray after the battle on the ground has been fought, better coordination between regime forces on the ground and SyAAF aircraft and helicopters in the sky is required to fully optimise the assests available at T4. Furthermore, the desperate revenge strikes flown by the SyAAF on recently lost towns could be stopped to spare not only the life of the many innocent civilians killed during these sorties, but also the precious airframes used in these useless sorties, with the wasted flight-hours instead allocated to supporting the regime's ground forces.

For example, only one symbolic sortie from T4 was flown in aid of the defenders of Hulayhilah, while the defenders of al-Sukhna, al-Hail, Arak and the numerous other towns and gasfields recently captured by the fighters of the Islamic State received no aerial support whatsoever. The SyAAF also largely stood by when Tadmur was captured, only flying some aimless sorties to boost moral of the regime forces on the ground. The town was heavily hit only after it was captured by the Islamic State, with the ordnance used randomly dropped on residential areas.

The huge weapons depots and airbase present at Tadmur provided the fighters of the Islamic State with large amounts of weaponry and associated ammunition, a logical target for the SyAAF's fighter-bombers, which can be equipped with sophisticated precision guided weaponry. However, none of the depots were targeted by the SyAAF, and it was the US-led coalition that had to step in to destroy six anti-aircraft guns captured at Tadmur.[1] This while the majority of the aircraft capable of deploying precision guided munitions is stationed at T4, located only sixty kilometers from Tadmur.

While
extensive in terms of types, Syria's numerically limited stock of precision guided missiles has seen little use throughout the Civil War, making it likely that the majority is still being withheld for a possible future conflict with the U.S. or Israel. But as the war has now entered its fourth year, one would question if such weaponry wouldn't be better off used in this conflict instead. While the SyAAF's current arsenal of precision guided weaponry would be quickly depleted, it could be quickly replenished by Russia; the continuous flow of Russian-made weaponry that reaches Syria on a regular basis is a testament to that fact.

When examining T4 using the latest (public) satellite imageryavailable one
can spot a large number of seemingly inoperational aircraft spread around the airbase, with as much as thirty-two decommissioned MiG-25s
visible at T4 in October 2014. While certainly an impressive sight, it marks the end of an era for the once mighty 'Foxbat' fleet. The fleet of MiG-25s was slowly decommissioned throughout the previous decade, with only a few examples remaining operational by the turn of the century.

The exact number of MiG-25s Syria received is thought to be around forty. Versions
are believed to include MiG-25P (later upgraded to MiG-25PDS) and
MiG-25PD interceptors, MiG-25R and RB reconnaissance aircraft and
MiG-25PU conversion trainers. A reason for the retirement of the MiG-25 fleet might not only be its age and the increasing costs to keep the aircraft operational that come with it, but also the type's vulnerability to
Israeli jamming.

The career of some MiG-25s appeared to have been revived on several occasions throughout the Syrian Civil War; the last confirmed sorties were flown in March and April 2014, during which a MiG-25PD(S) launched
R-40 air-to-air missiles at ground targets. These sorties, to no one's surprise, yielded no beneficial results.

The last to operate the MiG-25s was an unknown squadron at Tadmur, sporting three
MiG-25PD(S) and one MiG-25PU in its ranks until late 2013. These
aircraft were then likely flown to T4, where they joined the remainder
of the MiG-25 fleet already stored here.

The majority of the active aircraft operating out of T4 are housed in the airbase's fifty-eight Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS), including the SyAAF's Su-24M2s. T4 has traditionally been the home of Syria's Su-24s, with most located in the South-Eastern part of the airbase. A few examples are also detached to Seen at any given time. The Su-24s are undoubtedly the most important assets of the SyAAF, and have seen heavy usage in the past four years.

Although T4 is located closely to Islamic State held territory, 819 Squadron flying the Su-24s rarely participates in sorties flown against the fighters of the Islamic State. Instead, the Su-24 serves as the SyAAF's long arm, mostly striking villages throughout all of Syria. From Deir ez-Zor to Quneitra and even testing the reaction time of the Royal Air Force based at Akrotiri, Cyprus, the Su-24s done it all.

Contrary to earlier reports, the transfer of one Su-24MK and one Su-24MR by Libya to Syria in the mid 1990s might have not taken place, and has been disclaimed by several SyAAF pilots and the former base commander of T4. This means that the number of Su-24s Syria received stands at just twenty. However, nineteen of these Su-24MKs were upgraded to M2 standard by the 514 ARZ
Aircraft Repair Plant in Rzhev in Russia between 2010 and 2013. Just in time to participate in the Civil War, all aircraft returned to Syria relatively unnoticed.

The upgrade provides for improved
targeting, navigation and fire control systems by replacing the plane's
old control systems. The plane is also made compatible with newer
versions of the KAB-500/1500 and with Kh-31As, Kh-31Ps, Kh-59s and R-73s, adding to theFAB,
OFAB and RBK bombs, Kh-25s, Kh-28s, Kh-29Ls, Kh-29Ts and Kh-58s guided
missiles,
KAB-500s and KAB-1500s guided bombs, S-24 and S-25 air to ground
rockets, rocket pods and R-60 air-to-air missiles it can already carry. In Syrian service, all but the R-73 are available to the Su-24M2s, which are reserved for the SyAAF's MiG-29SMs instead.

Out of the twenty Su-24s originally acquired by the SyAAF, eleven examples remain operational as of June 2015. All but one loss incurred during the
Civil War, with one airframe damaged beyond repair after suffering an accident before it had commenced. One was shot down with a MANPADS by the Free Syrian Army above Daret Izzah
on the 28th of November 2012, another was shot down by an Israeli
Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) after having strayed into the airspace over the
Golan Heights on the 23th of September 2014 and another fell near Nahtah on the 11th of June 2015, likely due to premature detonation of its ordnance. One Su-24M2 was heavily damaged by anti-aircraft fire in May 2015, after which its pilot managed to guide the airframe to T4 despite the condition it was in. However, it crashed while on approach to the runway after it became apparent that the damage done to the aircraft would prevent a safe landing. Both the pilot and navigator ejected safely. An additional two Su-24s
were believed to have been destroyed in an accident on the 28th of May
2015, during which an explosion occured while both aircraft were being
rearmed for another sortie, resulting in the death of at least five and
wounding another dozen. Additionally, two Su-24s are out of service after having been
hit by ground fire. While the damage on both of these aircraft is
minimal and can be repaired, the SyAAF currently lacks the resources to
do so. The fleet of available airframes has thus almost been cut in half, and each loss is a heavy blow to the SyAAF.

A second fighter-bomber squadron based at T4
operates the Su-22M4, all of which are located in the North-Western and
South-Western part of the airbase. 827 Squadron has
seen heavy use against the fighters of the Islamic State in the past
year, mainly flying in support of Suqour al-Sahraa' (Desert Falcons)
units patrolling the Syrian desert.

The Su-22M4 is
outfitted for the carriage of S-24 and S-25 air-to-ground rockets,
unguided rocket
pods, FAB, OFAB and RBK bombs, KMGU-2 munitions dispensers, Kh-25,
Kh-28, Kh-29L, Kh-29T and Kh-58 air-to-ground missiles and R-60
air-to-air
missiles. The Su-22M4 has almost exclusively been used to deliver
unguided weaponry in the Syrian Civil War: its potential to deliver
guided weaponry again being ignored.

Although its Su-22s
are often targeted by anti-aircraft guns of the Islamic State, 827
Squadron has suffered relatively light losses in the past four years, with only one Su-22M4 shot down by the fighters of the Islamic State near the Shaer gas field on the 30th of November 2014. As
seen with the Su-24M2s, a couple of airframes are awaiting repair after
having suffered some form of combat damage.

In the mid to end of 2014, T4's aerial assests were further strengthened by
the deployment of a detachment of L-39s. Although nowadays rarely
sighted in Syria's skies, the remainder of the SyAAF's L-39 fleet remains active on nearly every
front, the L-39ZOs and L-39ZAs almost exclusively flying their sorties in the night in the Aleppo and Damascus region.

The L-39s based at T4 were among the examples overhauled at 'The Factory', the SyAAF's
repair and maintenance center located at Neyrab/Aleppo International Airport. The overhauled examples were distributed between Syria's remaining operational airbases, including Tabqa before it fell to the fighters of the Islamic State on the 24th of August 2014. The L-39s now present at T4 are believed to have been formerly based at Tabqa. These aircraft have thus followed the fighters of the Islamic State as they carried out their offensives in Syria.

In an effort to boost the firepower of the L-39s, all of the overhauled airframes were rewired for the carriage of
80mm B-8 rocket pods, a weapon originally not destined to be used on the L-39. A
B-8 equipped L-39ZO now stationed at T4 airbase can be seen below. The carriage of B-8 rocket pods greatly enchances the L-39's capabilities, which previously could only be armed with 57mm rocket pods and bombs.

Recent satellite imagery of T4 shows the presence of at least five L-39s at any given time, most sitting on the tarmac formerly used by the SyAAF's MiG-25s or by the double HAS, now acting as a support facility for the L-39s.

A detachment of Mi-8/17s now based at T4 act in support of the remaining regime forces in the region, and as a liaison between the airbase and the rest of regime-controlled Syria.

Four Mi-8/17s can be spotted on recent satellite imagery, stationed right next to the L-39s.

Many of the HAS's now empty after the decommissioning of the MiG-25 fleet have been turned into barracks, weapon depots and defensive strongholds. Two HAS's located on the North-Eastern side of the airbase and one HAS located on the South-Eastern part of the airbase have seen specifically much activity around them, with several trucks present in or near the HAS's at any given time.

A tank company, now stationed in the centre of T4, further strengthens the airbase's defences.

Satellite imagery also shows the many destroyed buildings in the officer's housing quarters located East of the airbase. This location was the scene of heavy fighting back in November 2014, which also spread to the nearby T4 pumping station. The defenders succesfully managed to push the fighters of the Islamic State back from both locations however.

Russian contractors from the Slavonic Corps, sent to protect the oilfields around Deir ez-Zor, also passed by T4 on their journey to the city. The contractors, apparantly spending more time posing for photos than actually fighting, were routed after being ambushed by rebel forces near the town of al-Sukhna on the way to Deir ez-Zor, and swiftly returned to Russia afterwards, where the owners of the Slavonic Corps was subsequently imprisoned by the Federal Security Service (FSB) because the operation was deemed illegal by the Russian government. Five contractors together with Su-24M2 '2514' can be seen below.

The two S-75 and three S-125 surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites surrounding the airbase remain active, and regularly change positions to throw off their adversaries. Although they are unlikely to be of much use during a potential Coalition air campaign against the Assad-regime due to their outdated nature, they would force the flight ceiling of coalition aircraft up in the early stages of such a campaign and might deter stand-alone strikes by other parties. The systems tasked with directing these SAMs to their targets are two
P-18 ''Spoon Rest D'' and two P-35/37 ''Bar Lock'' radars, which are
responsible for detecting any plane flying in this part of Central Syria, a crucial task now that Tadmur airbase and its many radars have been captured by the Islamic State. One RSP-7 radar and one Parol Identification friend or foe (IFF) system also present at T4 guide the aircraft that are coming in to land.

The latest offensive of the Islamic State on this vital airbase has once again been stopped before reaching the airbase, and with the recent setbacks for the Islamic State, this might have been their last chance to take it. Fortress T4, as large as it is important, will indubitably continue to serve as a major hub for the Syrian Arab Air Force.

Good job !On the differents pictures of the Syrians MiG-25 you provided, I noticed that they all lacks their TP-26sh sensor and APP dispenser (in this case, a typical export's standart addition), while decommissioned. Any reason for that ?About the Su-24, some are fitted with a 27 rounds APP-50 dispenser on the wings fences while on some airframes, this device is missing.Some Su-24 lack the tactical number below the cockpit too.Is that means different origins (first hand Su-24MK/second hand Su-24M converted in MK standart) ? Or different standart or overhaul (514 ARZ/NAPO) ?

Thank you.According to you, is it possible that they removed the Foxbat's TP-26Sh IRST for the overhaul of the MiG-23 MLDs they bought from Belarus ?The MLD is fitted with the TP-26 version, so they may have try to use the Foxbat's TP-26Sh for the Flogger...Concerning the KDS-155 flares dispenser, also obviously removed from the Foxbats, they may have been used for creating their own chaff/flares dispenser, such as the sample we can see on the first picture of a Su-17M4 in this article.

I agree. The regimes planes will have to now fly further to attack the same targets. More flying time will result in more hours in the air and so more maintenance of some old and tired airframes. Shorter ranged aircraft like the Mig 21 will have to carry add on fuel tanks, which means less ability to carry ordnance to the target area. More the fuel, the less the bombs.Additionally those aircraft may have more exposure whilst transitting further to rebel anti air defense.

The SyAAF itself is in no position to offer any kind of fight to an invading airforce - that much is apparent. The Air Defenses are not in a better condition either. Even a fraction of the Air Force that Turkey, Jordan and KSA have can neutralise almost all of Syria's air and air defense assets.

Bashar's air force* posses no threat to another country for long now. Question is, how long will it be able to deter other factions in Syria.

If you work out the figures of downed aircraft against lost ground forces and vehicles you will realise that in spite of AA and MANPADs, "Assad" can attack opponents (not to mention civilians!) from the air with less conflict.

This leaves the air force being a force to be reckoned with in regard to the development of the conflict within the Syrian Territories.

Question is, how many lost airbases away is it from collapsing? My bet is that losing three or four of the airbases that are currently under fire - would reduce it's capacity to a degree which will cripple it and allow other factions to progress underhindered, leading to another "breakthrough" in the conflict.

* Terms like "SYRIAN air force", "THE regime" and so on - are anachronistic. "Syria" has de facto dissolved, and by no account can Bashar be any longer seen as the legitimate president of anything other than the Alawite territories.

Same holds for "Syria" itself, and Iraq as well: The nation has fallen apart. There is no Syria, just "Syrian Territories" in the geographical sense.

I also refrain from explicitly calling Bashar by the surname "Al-Asad". This being a pseudonym for the original (and much insulting) Wakhsh - wild beast.

In the 5th picture (that of the pilots), both the pilots appear to be of Lieutenant-Colonel rank (equivalent to Wing Commander). Interesting since it is very rare in most Western air forces for both pilots in an aircraft to be of Lt.Col. rank. Sure, First Lieutentant (Flying Officer) ranked are pilots no longer allowed to be flying combat aircraft in any capacity in the RAF, so the rank composition of the flying corps is pretty much limited to Captains (Flt. Lt) and Majors (Squadron Leaders) but combat flying officers in Western forces petty much stop at Colonel/Group Captain rank (the RAF generally does not allow combat or trial pilots above 46 years of age and transport pilots above 52).

However it seems even Brigadiers (Air Commodore-equivalent) ranked officers are flying combat sorties regularly in the SyAAF and most single-airframe missions seem to be piloted by Colonels and Lt. Colonels. Could it be because the Command does not trust younger officers not attempting to defect with their planes and.or deliberately mis-aiming/misfiring at their designated targets ?

I have read somewhere that there were several thousand one star generals and above in the Syrian armed forces before the civil war began. The very lopsided rank structure was more about rewards than competancy or filling the needs of the military at the time .

Further observations - the 26th picture (that of the destroyed officers' housing quarters) show some evidence of indirect artillery fire being employed by ISIS forces against those set of targets, the pattern of the blackened-out destroyed buildings seem to suggest ISIS artillery were being guided by forward observers and/or aerial recon drones and the gun lines managed to accurately fire to effect on the coordinates. The pattern of the shell marks indicate a "withering fire" volley being employed, i,e, the artillery gun line shifting/traversing the aim of the guns based on changing coordinates given by Forward Observation because the defenders progressively retreated from one position to the next. This itself is interesting because it suggests a degree of professionalisation of artillery generally not seen in most non-State forces (FSA and non-Islamist rebel groups have almost never employed indirect artillery to any degree of accuracy as far as I remember).

Considering this capability I wonder how easy it would be for IS to hit the runway using long-distance indirect artillery within a range of 20-25 kms and put the runway out of order, at least temporarily ( I presume any artillery position would not be able to maintain in the open desert terrain for more than a day because of eventual discovery and interdiction by bombers from other Air Force bases and being eventually driven away out of range - which may have happened in case of the first assault).

ANNA news freshly released a video mixture of precission aerial attack on the bandits in Daraa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=77&v=SDircnTShPwAs can be seen on the screen, the symbols are written in Cyrillic. Anybody able to identify the system used?